Best camera for Alpy 600?

[John Coffin]

Do members have any advice on choosing a camera that suits the Alpy 600. I’ve noticed that a previous thread mentioned some cameras produce interference effects with certain spectrometers. 

I am trying to decide between the Atik 414 EX and the 460. I’d like a camera with a wide enough field for photometry too. Thanks.

[Paul Luckas]

Hi John,

There are no fringing issues with the 414EX at low resolution, and I believe it is still the “CCD camera of choice” for the Alpy. 

Paul

[Robin Leadbeater]

Hi John,

If specifically for an ALPY then as Paul says, the 414 is a good choice.  Be aware though that the 414 is best avoided if you think you might want to use it at high resolution with a LHIRES for example where severe (cover glass originating) fringes can be produced with cameras using this CCD. (Strangely the earlier generation 314 did not have this problem)  The 460 (and its smaller brother the 428) is free of fringes at high resolution but does show some waves in the spectral response at low resolution (due to the CCD internal layers) with the ALPY, though these are not severe (still better than the Kodak KAF CCD for example in this respect) and are effectively dealt with by the flat correction.

Cheers

Robin

[John Coffin]

Thanks, that’s helpful. John.

[Author]

Posts